With the new Te Ahu a Turanga highway now open, a wave of regional infrastructure—from freight hubs to industrial land and airport upgrades—is transforming Manawatū into a logistics powerhouse.

Developments

With Palmerston North Airport’s terminal redevelopment taking off in 2026, the region’s wider network of freight, road, rail, and industrial growth is set to reach new heights.

Palmerston North Airport

In 2027, construction ramps up across the region with enabling works underway for KiwiRail’s Regional Freight Hub, industrial growth accelerating in the North East, and the Ōtaki to Levin expressway taking shape.

KiwiRail’s Regional Freight Hub

By 2028, the Manawatū Regional Freight Ring Road is progressing fast, with bridge and culvert upgrades underway and the detailed business case nearing completion.

Roads

From the opening of the Ōtaki to Levin expressway to the completion of KiwiRail’s Freight Hub, expanding industrial land, airport runway upgrades, and the freight ring road under construction—2029 and beyond marks a new era for Manawatū’s transport and logistics network.

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